La Paz County Victim Compensation Board Meets March 19 in Parker

The La Paz County Crime Victim Compensation Board gathered March 19 at 9:30 a.m. at the La Paz County Attorney's Office on 1320 Kofa Avenue in Parker to consider victim claims and program business, continuing the regular meeting cycle it has maintained through the past year.

Awards for crime victims are approved by the Crime Victim Compensation Boards, making each session a consequential moment for people who have endured violence and financial loss. La Paz County's program operates under an Arizona Criminal Justice Commission grant agreement worth $60,230, covering fiscal year 2026 through June 30, 2026, with County Attorney Rachel Shackelford authorized to sign the agreement.

The stakes those meetings carry are illustrated by the board's January 28, 2025 session, when board member Jennifer Aspa moved to approve $10,000 in funeral expenses tied to Case No. 24-001. Tammy Thorn seconded the motion, all three members voted in favor, and the motion carried. The third member present, Chonna Marshall, later carried the motion to adjourn when the meeting ended at 10:16 a.m., just 14 minutes after it began at 10:02 a.m. Coordinator Jasmine Jones submitted those minutes on February 20, 2025, and they were formally approved March 20, 2025.

The maximum award for any one claim is $20,000, meaning the $10,000 funeral expense approval represented half the program's ceiling for a single case.

The board operates under program rules that shape who qualifies and how. Innocent victims of crime may apply for eligible compensation in the county where the crime occurred. Critically, the victim or a derivative victim must suffer physical injury or extreme mental distress as a direct result of the crime, or incur economic loss not covered by a collateral source. Eligibility does not hinge on whether a suspect is caught or convicted, but the program functions as a payer of last resort: all other sources of economic recovery must be exhausted before compensation benefits can be paid.

Jasmine Jones, the Crime Victim Compensation Coordinator, serves as the primary contact for victims, claimants, and community members seeking information about the program. Applications can be submitted online through the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission or mailed directly to the La Paz County Attorney's Office at 1320 Kofa Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344. The office can be reached by phone at 928.669.6118 or by fax at 928.669.2019.

Submitting an application does not guarantee an award; all claims will be thoroughly investigated before the board makes any determination.